Training imparted on population census

AJAY SARING
ROING, MARCH 20: The first District Level Population Census Training was held in the Anchal Samity Hall here yesterday. The long day training was held to impart training to the Census Charge Officers of various Sub-Divisions and Circles of Lower Dibang Valley District.

Y W Ringu, Deputy Commissioner cum Principal Census Officer of Lower Dibang Valley District in her inaugural speech has asked the Charge Officers to take the Census Operation seriously and without any leniency as the data created in the census would be the basis for further planning, grants and funding for the next ten years in the district. She further said that the15th Census of the country has a very long vision, far reaching and magnanimous with de-duplicating measures and has called upon them to ensure that the works are done in strict accordance with the timeline set by the Govt. She also called upon the Charge Officers to properly monitor the work done by the Enumerator to ensure that correct and accurate data are collected without any overlapping by the enumerator, as they will be held answerable for any errors, if found later. She further asked them to ensure that the house listing by the enumerators must be completed by May 8 next. She also asked them to maintain the secrecy of data collected during Census Operation as per the Census Act 1948 and Rules 1990 informing that the information is confidential and do not come under public domain or RTI Act. However, she clarified that the information under National Population Register would come under Public domain. Wishing them the best, she exhorted them to get themselves clear from every doubt and participate in the training actively.

Lod Gambo, SDO(SADAR) cum District Census Officer in his welcome speech has highlighted the importance of the Census. He also exhorted to collect accurate data without any error and to achieve the target within the time frame by the Govt. M. Tato, EAC cum Census Charge Officer also spoke on the occasion.

The Resource Persons from Director of Census Operation, Shillong, R K Manisana, Statistical Investigator (SI) Grade-I and A Choudhury, SI Grade-III imparted training. Charge Officers including T. Miso, SDO Hunli, D.Tali, SDO Dambuk, M. Pertin & Alen Pertin, EACs Hqtr, Rakesh Tacho, CO Desali & Jally Umpo, CO Hqtr and 10 Special Charge Officers from ITBP, BRTF, NHPC etc took part in the training.

District Collaboration Committee formed to fight TB

AJAY SARING
ROING, March 20: The first meeting of the District Collaboration Committee formed under the guidelines of National Framework for Joint HIV/TB Collaboration activities was held under the Chairmanship of Y W Ringu, Deputy Commissioner, Roing in her Office Chamber yesterday.

Dr A. Yirang, District Medical Officer cum Vice Chairman cum Nodal Officer has informed that active TB disease is the commonest opportunistic infection amongst HIV-infected individuals and vice-versa. Hence, to enhance the collaboration between Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and National AIDS Control Programme and to reduce the burden of TB and HIV in India, District Collaboration Committees were formed in the district.

Dr S J Mitapo, District TB Officer cum Member Secretary has highlighted the aims and objectives of forming the Collaboration Committee which are to establish a mechanisms for coordination between RNTCP and NACP at National, State and District levels, to decrease the morbidity and mortality due to Tuberculosis in people living with HIV/AIDS and also to decrease the impact of HIV in tuberculosis patients and provide access to HIV related care and support to HIV infected TB patients. The committee should organized training for programme ofiicials & field staffs on TB/HIV, establish cross referral mechanism for TB patients to NACP & ICTC for counseling and HIV infected TB patients for additional care and support for HIV disease. He also informed that the committee would ensure the smooth implementation and regular review of TB/HIV Collaborative activities and the committee should meet on quarterly basis.

Dr Yirang has also placed before the house for formation of a District Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) in the district to ensure that minimum quality health services are provided to the people of the district specially in regards to Sterilization Services.

Dr M. Basar, DRCHO has informed that the District Quality Assurance Committee would monitor the quality of Sterilization services provided at static health centres like Govt hospitals, private clinics and health camps organized by govt. or NGOs.

The level of services with minimum facilities required, quality needs and technical soundness of the staff are the norms to monitor them.

Dr Ista Pulu, Gynaecologist cum Medical Superintendent, District Hospital also spoke on the occasion informing the lack of requisite medical facilities in the district hospital.

The house decided to propose the govt for posting of an empanelled vasectomy surgeon and a anaesthetist to meet the required composition of the district QAC or to empanel one of the local doctor of the district after obtaining required training.

Basu Perme, Ex-MLA cum President, ACLS, Dr N. Yirang, Child Specialist and N. Umbrey, CDPO Roing had participated in the meeting.

Arunachal’s growth trajectory and hydro-projects

THE SENTINEL
On March 10, an organization called Up-stream Project Affected Area which comprises of almost 15 villages of Pangin-Boleng area along the banks of Siang River in East Siang district registered their protest in the form of a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Pasighat. In true sense of mass movement, the protest was supported by elites and youths like the East Siang District Students’ Union, Adi Students’ Union and Pangin-Boleng Students’ Union. Two interesting facets were witnessed from the protest movement. One, large presence of electronic and print media from Assam on the protest day at Pasighat and second, post-protest remarks of Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a press briefing at Itanagar.

Though Khandu cried foul of being misquoted wherein he referred to the protesters as anti-Arunachal; but his words are on record with media houses. His comment was distasteful. Perhaps, expectations of the protesting youths and village folks were of a statesmanship from the Chief Minister. Although he did clarify later; yet he failed short of retracting from his comment. One should bear in mind that the protestors hail from the village and areas where indigenous Arunachalees resisted British military expeditions; thus became part of Indian history and Arunachal’s folklore. Villagers’ forefathers fought with bows and arrows against the mighty British army and laid down their lives at Kekar-Monying. Thus in the early part of 1912, Arunachal became part of India’s freedom movement. Therefore, calling the children of patriots as anti-Arunachalees, that too when they were airing grievances within the democratic mechanism, was totally uncalled for. But it was appalling that the apex body of Adis, Adi-Bane Kebang, did not react at all to the Chief Minister’s comment. This is where the younger generation despises civil society.

It was also surprising to note that media houses from Assam were present in huge numbers and they were taking more interest in the protest than Arunachal media houses. Was it the lack of interest from local media houses or was it the over-enthusiasm of those from Assam? Answers could be both ways and time would tell the real reason behind it. But it would not be too far-fetched to imagine their motive behind such keen interest therefore protesting people would do well to remember that the first exploration and detail project report (DPR) for the dam over Siang River was prepared by Brahmaputra Flood Control Board (BFCB) which is even today largely an Assamese dominated organization. Why there wasn’t a protest in 1982 and why there is a protest today by certain sections of our neighbouring state?

From the socio-economic and ecological perspective, every dam may not be good and every dam may not be bad. But in case of Lower Siang Project, resentment appears to be combinations of socio-economic, ecological and emotional reasons too. This project is in the seismic zone V; resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy has not been explained properly; huge area of paddy field is projected to be submerged but with no alternatives in sight. Lastly, probability of submergence of historical site like Kekar-Monying, may have stirred emotions and sentiments of locals besides grievance of not being taken into confidence before GoAP embarked on the great journey of development with marathon signing of MoUs and MoAs.

Bereft of biasness, purely from common sense, one can draw an analogy between R&R policy and older version of PMGSY wherein GoI had put population as the eligibility criteria. As a consequence, Arunachal Pradesh did not benefit much. Similarly, Hydro-Power R&R states that 1 hectare of cultivable land would be compensated with Rs 1,75,000 or would be provided alternative cultivable land subject to availability of government land. But points are: has GoAP or Hydro-developers assessed the average size of land ownership? In topography full of terrains, hardly 15% of the populations have landholding of more than a hectare. Additionally, there is hardly any good cultivable land on higher ridge and most pertinently, there is no government land available in the vicinity. These are facts known to GoAP, Hydro-developers and locals; then why are they playing hide and seek; why are they pretending to be suffering from Ostrich syndrome? It is about time they need to sit across the table and negotiate to move forward.

Arunachal is on growth trajectory…. No one must be left behind; GoAP must carry along every Arunachalee and it is its responsibility to ensure that. It is a matter of time before Trans-Arunachal Highway kicks-off in the right earnest, connect with Trans-Asian Highway and Arunachal would soon become the gateway to South-East Asian market. Therefore, young Arunachalees also must be vigilant about vested parties and people, who would not like to see Arunachal become an economic power or a super-power in the coming years.

JARPUM GAMLIN
(The writer is CEO, The Sentinel, Arunachal Edition)

Ok for cops to take a swig or two: Arunachal Minister

Arunachal Pradesh's Home Minister could be in serious trouble. Tako Dabi says it's ok for cops to drink while on duty.

Tako even emphasised on the fact that drinking on duty can help energise them.

"Normally an officer on duty or in office does not drink but in case they take a swig or two that is absolutely normal. Behaviour after drinking would be wrong. Look at us, how much do we drink. It is energizing," he said.

Source: NDTV (Click here for video link)